(110416) KTO Jongno Hanok Homestay Experience Team - Part 1

A review which I've been procrastinating for 2 weeks
sorry KTO >.<

* * *

I own a twitter account
but I don't really use it
(coz I don't know how to use :PP )
the reason I hold the account
is just to "Follow" other people
especially Korean stars and some Korea-related pages
one of them is Korea Tourism Organisation
and through KTO
I came across this programme called
"Jongno Hanok Homestay Experience Team"
a programme for international students studying in Korea
so
I applied for it
and I got it!!!!!
hey, only 35 people all around Korea got selected!!!
hahahaha so lucky ^^

Everything we had during this 2D1N trip was free of charge
yes
free transportation, free food, free homestay, free souvenirs,
and of course, priceless experience and memory :)
the only thing that we are supposed to do
is just to post photos and blog some reviews
mainly to help promote Jongno
so for those going Korea (or any other countries)
do get yourself a twitter or facebook
and get connected to their Tourism Organisation ya!!!

Err wait...

where's Jongno?

not many people know about Jongno

but hey,

heard of Gyeongbok-goong (경복궁 景福宮) and some other palaces right?

shopping lovers should know about Myeongdong (명동 明洞) I believe?

and Hallyu lovers might have heard about the famous Namsan Tower?

yup yup,

they are all within the boundary of Jongno province (종로구 鈡路區)

but during this KTO trip,

we're not going to visit all these well-known tourist sites

but some other places with more traditional and cultural elements

so, let's get started ^^


* * *

16th April (Sat)
We are supposed to gather at KTO Headquarter at 9:20am
it's not far from KU so I've decided to take my magic bus 163 there
but I made a wrong estimation
since it's magic bus, it passes by many places along its route
so it took me 45mins to reach KTO
5 minutes late, hahaha :PP

Direction to KTO Headquarter:
<click to view details provided by KTO>


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Finding KTO? Just look for this red-blue logo :)

It's not so easy to find the gathering place, since it's hidden underground >.<

After some speeches and briefings by KTO officials, trip started ^^

* * *

1st Stop:
북촌한옥마을
(Bukchon Hanok Village 北村韓屋“村” )



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Bukchon Tourist Centre - such a nice place to have introduction at :)

Inchon Memorial Hall - welcomed by the Jongno-gu mayor, wow~

Brief introduction to the structures of the Korean tradition house (ie. Hanok)

Sarangchae

Mr Kim Tae'su, aka Inchon, the founder of Korea University as well!!!

Moving on to a museum-like place, where we're introduced the Korean wooden handcrafts

And finally, the houses :)
I've been to this place before, but I'm still loving it ^^

If you've watched the variety show 2D1N on 100926, yup, this was the place the MC went to.
There're 8 "photo sites"; I think I'll come back to this place again to complete all 8 sites and dedicate one post for them ^^

What a contrast ~O.o~

A short visit to one of the Hanok

* * *

2nd Stop:
Lunch at Spagettia



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Small little shop, opposite KTO Headquarter

Starter, Appetizer, whatever you call it :PP

Lobster and Crab Cream Pasta; mind you, it's treat from KTO :D

* * *

3rd Stop:
Chongga Kimchi World



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It's just next to Insa-dong, very near...anyway, saw the Cherry trees? ^^

Of course we went to Kimchi World to make Kimchi ourselves!!! Ingredients of the sauce was not taught thought =.=

Yup yup, it's the Kimchi I made ^^
Got to wait for 4 days before we can eat it, will have photos of me eating it in later posts ^^

After Kimchi making, what's next? It's my favourite 떡볶이 (Ddeukbokki 辣炒年糕)
To learn how to cook it, click here to visit my FB for step-by-step demo by chef jiuntat :PP

Done!!! And served with 막걸리 (Makkeolli, Korean Rice Wine).
But actually, Ddeokbukki is a street food, people don't usually eat it with Makkeolli, but just soup, haha...

* * *

4th Stop:

인사동

(Insa-dong, 仁寺洞)

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As I mentioned, the Kimchi World is very near to Insa-dong.
We had some free time for a walk along the street while waiting for the next activity :)

Insa-dong had became a tourist site, selling all kinds of Korean handcrafts and artworks.
But if you want to buy some souvenirs home, don't buy it here, the price is unreasonably high.
I'll tell you where to buy souvenirs later :PP

It's said that tea-houses in Insa-dong are very nice; shall have a try next time when have more time ^^

* * *

Well, shall stop here for time being
hope you enjoy the photos, hehe...
if you wanna see more, of course,
more on FB: click here click here ^^


~~TO BE CONTINUED~~~